James b



(No Model.)

E U r v I W M W m m M, W 0% Nrrnn TATES JAMES B. DAVIS, OF WASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,253, dated April1., 1885.

Application filed December 22, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. DAVIS, residing at Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Breech-Loadin g Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to breech-loading fire-arms; and it consists incertain improvements in the construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth and claimed.

The object of the invention is to overcome certain objections found toexist in fire-arms used for throwing signal'lights into the air-- such,for instance, as that shown in United States Patent No. 193,906, ofAugust 7, 1877 Prior to my invention the barrel of such a fire-arm, whenmade to revolve on a central vertical pivot which was thrown back by aspring, would catch theprojecting nose of the hammer, and it wasnecessary to half-cock the arm before the barrel could be turned withfacility. The barrel was not certainly selfcentering in firing position,and accidents and miss-fires were liable to occur. These objections Iovercome by the constructions set forth in the annexed drawings, inwhich Figure l is a side elevation,partl y sectionel, of a fire-armaccording to this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the barrel,the pivothead being omitted. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the barrel andaportion of the stock. Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal section of thefront portion of the stock. Fig. 5 is a detail showing spring-pin andattaching devices. Fig. 6 is a broken section showing side elevation ofthe lock mechanism.

A indicates the barrel, which has a pivot, C, on its lower centralsurface. This pivot enters a narrow longitudinal slot, 13, in the stockS, and has a head, D, within the enlarged oval slot F in the stock belowslot B. The spring-pin E, which bears against the pivot or its head,tends to press the barrel back toward the recoil-shield S. The barrelhas a bottom rib, and this rib has beveled surfaces 13 '6 43 near thecorners of its lower surface, and has, nearly between these beveledsurfaces or notches, a depression, Z6, (one at each end of the barrel.)A spring-pin, m, in the frame or stock (which is held in place by nut n)projects slightly above the face of the stock or framcin the path of theinclinest when the barrel is turned on its pivot. The inclines willforce the spring-pin down when the barrel is swung round, and when thebarrel is central the rounded point of the spring-pin will enter one ofthe depressions 70, holding the barrel with some firmness, but notsofirmly that the barrel is locked-only held with stiff spring pressure.The hammer O is pivoted at P and pressed forward by mainspring Q. Thetrigger It is thrust into engagement by scar-spring T, which is a singleleaf screwed to the frame. The hammer is thrust back to reboundedposition after firing by fiat spring U, secured in the frame just behindthe recoil -shield, said spring bearing against the face of the hammerbelow the nose.

This arm, which is used for firing signal-cartridges, is loaded in theusual way, and after firing one cartridge the barrel is swung partlyround and a second cartridge inserted at the.

other end of the barrel, forcing the shell of the first one out. Thecartridge-rim fills the space between the barrel and recoil shield, andwould meet with obstruction were the hammer allowed to stopin lowest ormost forward position.

I claim- In combination with a pistol-stock, a barrel pivoted to saidstock on a vertical pin, and a spring bearing against said pivot topress it to the rear, a spring catch in the stool; and notches in theedges and center of the barrel to engage therewith, and a reboundinghammer having a point which in its forward movement extends through therecoil-shield, but is thrown back by a spring between said hammer andshield, all substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. DAVIS.

Witnesses: W. A. BARTLETT, J. HARRY STUART.

